Major business events and economic events scheduled for Thursday:

WASHINGTON - Labor Department releases weekly jobless claims, 8:30 a.m.

WASHINGTON - Freddie Mac, the mortgage company, releases weekly mortgage rates, 10 a.m.

WASHINGTON - Commerce Department releases wholesale trade inventories for November, 10 a.m.

WASHINGTON - Labor Department releases job openings and labor turnover survey for November, 10 a.m.

FRANKFURT, Germany - European Central Bank's governing council meets to set monetary policy for the eurozone.

LONDON - The Bank of England makes its monthly announcement on the key interest rate.